Dear Editor:
As the former Hoboken Fire Chief and civic activist, I am honored to endorse Councilman Peter Cammarano for Mayor and his diverse team, Francis Rhodes-Kearns, Michael Novak, and Angel Alicea. They will be there for every resident of Hoboken and truly represent the hard working families of our city.
Peter’s qualifications are exceptional. Examples – (1) Graduating cum laude from Boston University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in History. (2) Graduating Seton Hall Law School.
He has gained valuable experience working as law clerk for Superior Court Judge Kevin G. Callahan. His current legal practice includes labor and employment law, an area that makes him of great value in addressing the needs of the City of Hoboken.
Among his accomplishments as a councilman-at-large is his success in stopping the Port Authority’s fare hike which helped keep this vital rail service affordable to the thousands of people who use it every day. He also won the fight against eminent domain before the city council to stop property owners from losing the business that they have been engaged in for years. He was the first councilman to address the controversy regarding the actions of the Police Department’s SWAT team, which was dissolved in days.
As a civilian he applied his knowledge to become a member of the New York and Jersey Bars. He has also shared his knowledge while serving as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University teaching legal research to undergraduate and graduate students.
As a resident tax payer and former Hoboken fire chief, I believe that Peter will improve Hoboken by reducing the cost of government. His credentials as a labor and municipal lawyer will allow him to address reducing the approximately $30 mil. annual cost for the Department of Public Safety. I served in our fire department for over 35 years and continue to help the fire service in my present capacity as Trustee for an active retiree labor organization, Attending a recent meeting of this group, I became aware that the City of Montclair, N. J. had reached agreement with the local union to adjust their pay raises and longevity provisions for future hires. This stopped the potential for layoffs. Recently, a firehouse in Clifton, N.J. was closed as the result of layoffs. At the present time, their governing body is in the final steps to rehire the firefighters as the result of a furlough plan.
In closing, I feel that Peter Cammarano can lead the way by using his expertise to help improve the financial condition of Hoboken by achieving the economic goals of our community without reducing the protection to the public. As Mayor, I am sure that he will be able to secure the detailed operational audits of all city departments that (according to our fiscal control monitor) are not available at this time. This will provide him with the blueprint that can be used as a guide to move our city forward.
To summarize, Peter has the knowledge, skills, ability and experience to provide the kind of leadership that our city sorely needs. His specific expertise in labor law will allow him to find creative ways to reduce the hurt to our most important asset, our municipal employees, and balance it with addressing the concerns of our burdened taxpayers.
The ultimate goal of the Cammarano Team is to provide quality services to all citizens of the City of Hoboken.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard R. Tremitiedi